Chicago River Bridges

Chicago, IL | Jul 13, 2012

Crossing the main stem of the Chicago River in downtown Chicago, there are ten bridges between Lake Michigan and the river’s confluence with the North Branch at Wolf Point. The largest of these is the DuSable Bridge, a double leaf, bascule bridge which carries Michigan Avenue over the Chicago River. Built from 1918 through 1928, this bridge is unique in the city for providing passage for vehicles and pedestrians on two levels.

The found sound for this audio recording was made while walking on the lower level of the DuSable Bridge slowly from the north landing to the south landing then finally up the stairs to the upper level of Michigan Avenue. A listener will hear the sound of passing automobiles and pedestrians overhead, the sound of boat traffic below and the sounds made by cars and trucks using the lower level of the bridge crossing the underground portion of Wacker Drive. At the end of the recording, the sounds change as I walk up to the street level of Michigan Avenue and the sounds of footsteps then conversation appear.